Looking to do the JMT in 16-17 days, beginning from Happy Isles on July 29th, with food pickups at Reds Meadow and Muir Trail Ranch.

Here's my current gear list:http://lighterpack.com/r/93ieru

Let me know if I'm missing anything, could really do without anything, or could lighten anything on the list relatively cheaply. I've checked out and tried other backpacks, but I'm most comfortable with the Exos, even though I could save weight there. I know I could save weight on the sleeping bag too, but unless I fall upon a supermegadeal, that's what I'll be going with.

Agreed, drop the flip flops. Out of Happy Isles you are instantly going to wish that you had the lightest pack possible. And on that note: have you thought about stashing food at Tuolumne Meadows too? I've met lots of hikers who were disheartened hiking from Happy Isles to Tuolumne with six days of food on their backs. It's a real climb! And you're just starting out. I'd vote making things as easy as possible. Pack two days worth of food.

Are you cooking with esbits or alcohol? With the fire situation in California, you need to check to make sure you can use alcohol. As of last week you could not use alcohol in Yosemite, some of the other areas on the JMT have not made up their mind yet.

My initial plan was to be able to get to Red's Meadow in 5 days/4 nights. I was going to ship my cookset to my first drop at Red's, and have non-cook food the first few days, along with a meal or two at Tuolumne (depending when I'm around there), and then a meal at Red's when I get there.

I guess I was more focused/worried about the last drop at Muir Trail Ranch, and carrying 9 days of food up and over the high passes, than I was the first couple of days.

The PCTA site has some info. They also have links to the different forest services you will be going through. Just so happens i am leaving on the JMT SOBO on the 15th of July and have been checking all the links every week to try to find out which ones are allowing what. It is very confusing! I have finally decided to carry canister stove with esbit backup, but will keep checking for changes. My feeling is it will only get worse, not better.

My hiking shoes (trail runners) were a dream, yet I was still sooo happy to have my flip flops (the cheapest, lightest old school kind I could find).

If it was me, I would drop the extra pair of Darn Tough socks. One pair of Darn Tough socks (w/Injini toe socks - foot savers!!!) saw me through the entire JMT. Twice. I also brought an ankle length pair of smartwool socks for sleeping (1.1 oz) and wore them occasionally during the day if the hiking socks were drying. Mostly, however, I could get by with only washing the liners regularly, as the Darn Tough held up so well and didn't get very stinky (at least not that I noticed! ;) .

Forego the inflatable pillow? It looks like it may be your luxury item, but you can use your jacket or something and make out just fine.

flip flops: or get a pair of mesh pool shoes that weigh about 2 ounces. I use mine if I'm going to be crossing a lot of streams, but they're fine in camp. Except for the occasional Ponderosa pine cone needle!

Last year the fire bans went into effect around July 1st in both Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Given how dry this year I expect it to be similar if not sooner. (Inyo NF and Sierra NF are the areas between Yosemite and Kings Canyon.)

SEKI allows alcohol and esbit during fire restrictions, so from MTR southward, I think you can use those for sure. Buy a cheap ebay cannister stove and leave it in the hiker box at MTR and use alchol from there, they sell the alcohol too. The weight isnt much of an issue anywhere before there.